Daily News Simplified - DNS 24 02 20

SL. THE HINDU TOPICS NO. PAGE NO.

1 Youth can be a clear advantage for 10

2 Battling for the downtrodden 10

3 ’s Gandhi Connection 11

4 MM hills sanctuary to be a reserve tiger soon 08

5 No country is doing enough to protect children’s health, finds 09 study 6 Cherish our biodiversity, say PM 12

7 Rushikulya rookery all set to welcome olive ridley 06

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Title 1. Youth can be a clear advantage for India (The Hindu, Page no. 10) Syllabus Mains: Paper II – Social Justice Theme youth and Demographic Dividend Highlights Context:

• India’s population is among the youngest in an ageing world. • A demographic dividend, said to have commenced around 2004-05, is available for close to five decades. This is an extraordinary opportunity. There are however, two caveats.

Key caveats

a) India’s population heterogeneity ensures that this window of demographic dividend becomes available at different times in different States.

b) Harnessing the demographic dividend will depend upon the employability of the working age population, their health, education, vocational training and skills, besides appropriate land and labour policies, as well as good governance.

India will gain from its demographic opportunity only if policies and programmes are aligned to this demographic shift.

Need for skills

• The Economic Survey 2019 calls for additional jobs to keep pace with the projected annual increases in working age population. • We need a workforce that is well educated, and appropriately skilled. • UNICEF 2019 reports that at least 47% of Indian youth are not on track to have the education and skills necessary for employment in 2030. • The projected demographic dividend would turn into a demographic disaster if an unskilled, under-utilised, and frustrated young population undermines social harmony and economic growth.

Even while India aspires to become a knowledge economy, millions of young people are getting left behind.

The need:

• Most districts now have excellent broadband connectivity. Irrespective of rural or urban setting, the public school system must ensure that every child completes high school education, and is pushed into appropriate skilling, training and vocational education in line with market demand. • Deploy new technology to accelerate the pace of building human capital by putting in place virtual classrooms together with massive open online courses (MOOCS) to help prepare this huge work force for next-generation jobs. Investing in open digital universities would further help yield a higher educated workforce. Dated:24. Feb. 2020 DNS Notes - Revision

Women issues

• Growing female literacy is not translating into relevant and marketable skills. A comprehensive approach is needed to improve their prospects vis-à-vis gainful employment. • Flexible entry and exit policies for women into virtual classrooms, and into modules for open digital training, and vocational education would help them access contemporary vocations. • A mushrooming of job portals and organisations are providing employment for trained women, even from home. • Equal pay for women will make it worth their while to stay longer in the workforce.

Health care

• The National Sample Survey Office data on health (75th round, 2018), shows that a deep-rooted downturn in the rural economy is making quality health-care unaffordable. • People are availing of private hospitals less than they used to, and are moving towards public health systems. • That is all very well except for the fact that the central budget 2020-21 lays emphasis on private provisioning of health care which will necessarily divert public investment away from public health infrastructure. • The Ayushman Bharat Yojana links demand to tertiary in-patient care. This promotes earnings of under-utilised private hospitals, instead of modernising and up-grading public health systems in each district. • We need to assign 70% of health sector budgets to integrate and strengthen primary and integrated public health-care services and systems up to district hospital levels, include out-patient department and diagnostic services in every health insurance model adopted, and implement in ‘mission mode’ the Report of the High Level Group, 2019, submitted to the XV Finance Commission. • The elderly population in India is projected to double from 8.6% in 2011, to 16% in 2040. This will sharply reduce the per capita availability of hospital beds in India across all major States, unless investments in health systems address these infirmities. Dated:24. Feb. 2020 DNS Notes - Revision

Personal Notes

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Title 2. Battling for the downtrodden (page no. 10)

Syllabus Mains: GS Paper II: Social Justice & Polity and Governance Theme Judicial intervention and Dalits Highlights Context: • The Supreme Court has ruled that quotas and reservations for promotions for government jobs are not a fundamental right, setting aside an Uttarakhand High Court order of 2012. • The top court has also said that States could not be forced to make such provisions without data showing imbalance in representation of certain communities in public service. The author in this article not only demonstrates that the affirmative action policies are necessary but also makes a case for “Reparation” or compensation for loss and damage to the Dalits community for the injustices committed against them though centuries.

Let us now analyse the condition of the Dalits in this respect: • Practice of untouchability o Although abolished by the constitution is still prevalent and according to a recent survey by academician Amit Thorat, more than half the forward caste people confessed to practising untouchability. o this percentage went up further as far as upper castes are concerned, (nearly 68% Brahmins in rural and 77% Brahmins in urban areas of the State admitted to the practice) • Representation of people belonging to SC community in services o There is a massive backlog of posts under reservation and this has become a regular feature in all States. • Under-representation of Dalits in ownership of land and enterprise: o As we know that Dalits were historically excluded from land ownership due to the caste system. They were also consistently excluded from the process of land reforms in a significant way. o But Dalits own dismal (around) 8% of total farm area in India. • Literacy o Dalit population in India have literacy rates well below national average. (66%) o These numbers aggravates menacingly when we consider higher education. o In 2015, the enrolment rate in higher education was 20% for SCs compared to 43% for higher castes. • Wealth o In 2013, of the total wealth in the country, the share of SCs was only 5% in rural areas against their population share of almost 17%. o In 2012 about a third were poor, compared to 11% for high castes. • Employment status o They are mostly over represented in informal sector. o In 2014-15, almost half of Dalits depended on casual wage labour when compared to 11% of high castes.

With such widespread discrimination prevalent in the State, an honest response on representation from the Executive and administration is hard to expect. So, Unaccountability and caste slavery have completely crippled Dalits. They remain asset-less, illiterate and socially isolated with overt residential segregation in rural areas, and subtly in urban areas. Therefore, the reservation policy is necessary as a safeguard against discrimination and to secure their fair share. Dated:24. Feb. 2020 DNS Notes - Revision

But are affirmative action policies sufficient in dealing with such prevalent and perpetual discrimination? The affirmative action policies similar to reservation mainly provide protection against discrimination and ensure a fair share of benefits in the “present”, but this is a weak remedy to deal with the consequences of “past” exclusion.

So what should be done? • What the SCs require most is “adequate compensation or reparation” for traditional denial of rights to property and education, and slave labour. • Dalits need to be given adequate land, enterprises, and funds for education as compensation. The rationale behind ensuring compensation is the enrichment of the higher castes at the cost of the impoverishment of Dalits through under-payment of wages to slave labour and denial of rights to land, enterprises, and education. Since the high castes have benefited at the cost of the former untouchables, there is legal and moral justification that they compensate for the losses they have inflicted on the latter for centuries. With such a massive backlog in the condition of SCs, the top court should have been more sensitive in its observations. The Court and the judiciary is the last resort for Dalits who continue to face oppression under the pretext of divine ordination.

Personal Notes

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Title 3. Payannur’s Gandhi Connection (The Hindu Page No. 11)

Syllabus Mains: Paper I: India’s Heritage and Culture Theme Historical Importance of Payyanur in Highlights Historical Importance of Payyanur in Kerala Payyanur Taluk is situated on the banks of the Perumba river in Kerala’s district played a significant role in India’s struggle for independence and also has a historical engagement with Gandhian thought and action. • Simon Commission - In 1928, it witnessed Simon Commission protest as first major movement that ushered Payyanur to the forefront of the freedom struggle. • All Kerala Political Conference - 1928 also witnessed the All Kerala Political Conference at Payyanur, which was presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru and it passed resolutions demanding Poorna Swaraj. • Salt Satyagraha - It also witnessed Salt Satyagraha in 1930 led by Koyapalli Kelappan Nair who led a procession of 33 satyagrahis from to Payyannur. • Koyapalli Kelappan Nair is also known as Kerala Gandhi. • Koyapalli Kelappan Nair was a founding member and president of the Nair Service Society. He was a reformer, freedom fighter, educationist and journalist. • Anti-untouchability Movement - Payyanur was also an epicentre of the anti- untouchability movement where important leaders like A.K. Gopalan, K.A. Keraliyan and Vishnu Bharatiyan guided boys from the oppressed Pulaya community into the southern corridor of the Kandoth Sree Kurumba Bhagavathi Temple. • Ananda Shenoy - joined Sabari Ashram in 1926. Following Gandhiji’s advice to take up the task of uplifting the oppressed classes, he went to Sivagiri in 1928; he was given the title of ‘Swami Anandatheertha’ by Narayana Guru in 1928 and raised the banner of revolt against casteism also by educating the people. • Mahatma’s Visit in 1934 – Mahatma Gandhi visited Payyanur in January 1934 to meet Swami Anandatheertha. An urn containing ashes from the funeral pyre of Gandhiji is still preserved in the Sabari ashram. Dated:24. Feb. 2020 DNS Notes - Revision

Personal Notes

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Title 4. MM Hills sanctuary to be a tiger reserve soon (The Hindu Page No. 08)

Syllabus Mains: GS Paper III – Environment and Ecology Prelims: GS Paper I – Geography of India Theme Wildlife Sanctuary Highlights Context: Malai Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka’s Chamarajanagar district is expected to be notified soon as Tiger Reserve by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). • A presentation of the final proposal was made before the NTCA and the final notification will be made by the State government once the NTCA gives its formal approval. • Once notified, Chamarajanagar district will have the rare distinction in the country of having three tiger reserves. • It already has Bandipur and Biligiri Ranganatha Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve within its territorial limits. • Also, with this, Karnataka will have six tiger reserves, the others being Nagarahole, Bhadra, and Anshi-Dandeli, apart from Bandipur and BRT Tiger Reserves. • Malai Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary will be renamed Malai Mahadeshwara Hill Tiger Reserve with a core area of 670.95 sq km spread across Malai Mahadeshwara Reserve Forest, Hanur Reserve Forest and Yediyarahalli Reserve Forest. The sanctuary presently has about 20 tigers. Malai Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary • It is contiguous with both BRT Tiger Reserve in Karnataka on the western side and Satyamangalam Reserve in Tamil Nadu on the southern side. • the Malai Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary based on the confluence of the Eastern and Western ghats, was notified as a sanctuary only in May 2013. • In addition to connecting BRT, through the Edyaralli-Doddasampige elephant corridor, MM Hills also connects the Bannerghatta National Park forming a contiguous landscape of 3,000 sq km of wildlife habitat. This is one of the largest landscapes in the country for the conservation of tigers, elephants and other large and wide-ranging mammalian species. How is Tiger Reserve notified? • As per Section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the State Government can on the recommendation of the National Tiger Conservation Authority, notify an area as a tiger reserve. • “Tiger Reserve” includes core or critical tiger habitat areas of National Parks and sanctuaries, where it has been established and buffer or peripheral area consisting of the area peripheral to critical tiger habitat or core area.

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Personal Notes

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Title 5. No country is doing enough for their children (page no. 09)

Syllabus Mains: GS Paper II: Social Justice & Polity and Governance Theme Children Rights and Issues Highlights

Personal Notes

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Title 6. Cherish our biodiversity, say PM (The Hindu, Page no 12) Syllabus Prelims: Environment and Biodiversity Theme New Sub-terranean fish variety discovered Highlights Context: Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, in his regular radio address through Man Ki Baat, has highlighted the importance of Biodiversity. He quoted the discovery fish in Meghalaya recently. In this scope let’s explore more about this new variety of fish discovered.

• About 250 varieties of subterranean fish are known on Earth, eking out a living in a world of permanent dark and scant food. They are usually small, generally a few inches long, since there’s usually little food or prey to eat. • The world’s largest species of cave fish measuring over 40cm or around one and a half feet in length have been found inside a remote cave in Meghalaya’s Jaintia Hills. • The fish discovered in the Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya in February 2019 is by far the largest troglobitic fish yet known, and is nearly 5 times the mean length (85 mm/8.5 cm) of all known subterranean fishes to date. • The new fish is similar to the golden mahseer, Tor putitora, except for its blander look, lack of eyes and -- of course -- its unusual underground home in Meghalaya's Jaintia Hills. It is not clear yet if a new species has been found. • Before this discovery, the two longest known subterranean fish species, both narrow and ribbon-like, are the blind swamp eel (Ophisternon infernale—meaning “chest- serpent from hell”), native to Mexico’s Yucátan, and the blind cave eel (Ophisternon candidum), from western Australia. These endangered fish are much thinner than the newfound creature. • The reason for the bigger size of these fish is regular flooding of the caves which increases the availability of nutrients in the water. • The fish, related to the Golden Mahseer but has no eyes and is white due to lack of melanin pigmentation, was found by a team of international and local researchers. • Meghalaya has an elaborate and extensive network of caves. Several international and Indian researchers have been mapping the caves since 1992 in association with Meghalaya Adventurers Association and the latest find is part of that project. • Researchers believe the fish is bulky in size due to large and regular food supply, with surface vegetation entering the cave through the entrance shaft on rainy seasons.

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But how did it go undetected for so long?

Caves are one of the least-explored of all habitats. We know absolutely nothing about the cave fauna of India -- especially in the streams and lakes that are found inside the caves.

What about conservation? Are there any known threats to the fish's survival?

No threats have been identified so far. It is difficult terrain to get to, and so I think no short-term threats would impact the populations.

Important fact: Please note that the world's longest sandstone cave named Krem Puri was recently discovered in Meghalaya. It has a staggering length of 24.5 km, almost three times the height of Mount Everest, and contains some dinosaur fossils from 66-76 million years ago as well.

'Krem' means 'cave' in Khasi language. The cave system which is 24,583 metres long was discovered in near Laitsohum village, located in the Mawsynram area in Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills district.

The previous world record holder in the longest sandstone cave category was Venezuela's Cueva Del Saman in Edo Zulia. This is an 18,200-metre (18.2km) long quartzite sandstone cave.

Meghalaya is also home to India's longest cave in the general category - the Krem Liat Prah- Umim-Labit limestone cave system located in Jaintia Hills. It measures over 31 km in length. Dated:24. Feb. 2020 DNS Notes - Revision

Personal Notes

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Title 7. Rushikuliya Rookery all set t welcome olive Ridley (The Hindu Page No. 06)

Syllabus Prelims: GS Paper I: Environment and Ecology Theme Olive Ridley Highlights ·

Personal Notes